User-preferred network interface switching using route table manipulation

Abstract

A computerized system includes a user interface component operable to specify user preferences; and a policy manager component capable of receiving the user preferences, selecting a network interface from a plurality of network interfaces by matching the user preferences to a set of characteristics for a network interface, and modifying a routing table entry according to the selected network interface.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for selecting a network interface, the method comprising: 
 receiving a policy specifying user preferences;    selecting a network interface from a plurality of network interfaces by matching the user preferences to a network interface characteristic; and    modifying a routing table entry associated with the selected network interface.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing table entry includes a metric field and further wherein modifying the routing table entry includes modifying the metric field.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the routing table includes raising the priority of the routing table entry associated with the selected network interface.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the routing table includes lowering the priority of a routing table entry not associated with the selected network interface.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the routing table includes deleting a routing table entry not associated with the selected network device.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a cost of using a network communicably coupled to the network interface.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a battery consumption characteristic of the network interface.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on the signal strength of the network interface.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a latency value associated with a network communicably coupled to the network interface.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a bandwidth associated with a network communicably coupled to the network interface.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a reliability value associated with a network communicably coupled to the preferred network interface.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy is received from a user interface.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy is received from a configuration file.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy is received from an environment variable.  
     
     
         15 . A computerized system comprising: 
 a user interface component operable to specify user preferences; and    a policy manager component operable to perform the tasks of: 
 receive the user preferences,  
 select a network interface from a plurality of network interfaces by matching the user preferences to a set of characteristics for a network interface, and  
 modify a routing table entry according to the selected network interface.  
   
     
     
         16 . The computerized system of  claim 15 , further comprising a link monitor operable to notify the policy manager of changes in a link status of a network interface from the plurality of network interfaces.  
     
     
         17 . The computerized system of  claim 16 , wherein the link monitor includes a wired link management component.  
     
     
         18 . The computerized system of  claim 16 , wherein the link monitor includes a wireless link management component.  
     
     
         19 . The computerized system of  claim 16 , wherein the link monitor notifies the policy manager of the link status change upon insertion or deletion of a network interface.  
     
     
         20 . The computerized system of  claim 16 , wherein the link monitor notifies the policy manager of the link status change when a signal strength associated with the network interface crosses a predetermined threshold value.  
     
     
         21 . The computerized system of  claim 16 , wherein the link monitor notifies the policy manager of the link status change upon a link roam.  
     
     
         22 . The computerized system of  claim 15 , further comprising a routing table interface operable to provide a set of functions to modify the routing table.  
     
     
         23 . A machine-readable medium having computer executable instructions to perform a method for selecting a network interface, the method comprising: 
 receiving a policy specifying user preferences;    selecting a network interface from a plurality of network interfaces by matching the user preferences to a network interface characteristic; and    modifying a routing table entry associated with the selected network interface.    
     
     
         24 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein the routing table entry includes a metric field and further wherein modifying the routing table entry includes modifying the metric field.  
     
     
         25 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein modifying the routing table includes raising the priority of the routing table entry associated with the selected network interface.  
     
     
         26 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein modifying the routing table includes lowering the priority of a routing table entry not associated with the selected network interface.  
     
     
         27 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein modifying the routing table includes deleting a routing table entry not associated with the selected network device.  
     
     
         28 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a cost of using a network communicably coupled to the network interface.  
     
     
         29 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a battery consumption characteristic of the network interface.  
     
     
         30 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on the signal strength of the network interface.  
     
     
         31 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a latency value associated with a network communicably coupled to the network interface.  
     
     
         32 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a bandwidth associated with a network communicably coupled to the network interface.  
     
     
         33 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein receiving a policy includes receiving a policy specifying a network preference based on a reliability value associated with a network communicably coupled to the preferred network interface.